A willingness to take risks is often what separates the successful from the very successful. But why is risk so relevant and how can you build up your tolerance for making the bold decisions that will lead to better careers? SFU's Business Co-op Manager, Tanya Behrisch shares why the ability to take risks matters.
Co-operative Education
As Lauren wraps up her final co-op term, she looks back on her incredible time with Parks Canada and the lessons she's learned during this experience.
Thinking of changing your career path? Saniya explains why it's normal for your career path to not be linear and redefines what it will look like for most of us.
What does an Engagement Program Assistant do? In this blogpost, Shina shares with us what it means to empower the students in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the importance of communication!
What happens when a Criminology student meets the administration. Learn more about Julia’s experience in the world of Information Management as it transitions away from paperwork and towards technology.
Have a difficult time talking to people in the workplace? Are you worried about your upcoming Co-op experience? Jeffrey has some tips for you that will help you find success at your workplace!
As someone who didn’t have a lot of direct experience in a technological setting, providing value to the organization had to come from something much bigger than my direct skill set.
"As it just so happens, I went in blind. I didn’t know what I was up against, and I can’t say I felt particularly ready either, as I had no previous marketing experience." - Sandra talks about her co-op experience with Picniic.
"Sometimes, a co-op work term is not exactly what you expect it to be; it happens." But perspective is everything. Read Diana's tips on how to cope with a challenging co-op term.
"I knew very little about accounting and definitely had no passion for it" - read on to find out how Leana overcame her aversion towards accounting.
Relax! Yes, you may have made a mistake, but it is how you handle the consequences that count. Carina talks about how she made mistakes, faced her fears and learned from them.
Read about Allison's co-op experience with the City of Surrey and learn what it is like working in government organisations.
"This being my first co-op term, I didn’t really know what to expect. I didn’t know what to wear, how welcoming my co-workers would be or what exact tasks I would be assigned" - Joshua talks about his co-op experience.
Read on to find about how Crystal became a manager at just nineteen!
Thinking about doing a co-op with a start-up company? Read Claire's co-op experience to find out what it was like!
What does it mean to be alone but not lonely? Grace Chang talks about self-discovery, studying abroad and her adventures in Australia.
Are you uncertain whether to pursue a co-op at a large corporation or a small company? Sharon Huang shares why she chose to launch her career at a start-up.
You see a job posting, you read the description, you become interested. You apply for the job, you get interviewed, then you get hired. Now what? Anh Vu, shares how she learned the ropes at TRIUMF.
Working at non-profit organizations may have a less-than-desirable reputation among students, especially regarding pay and prestige; and while it may not look as glamorous as working in a big corporate firm, it has a few unique perks to help you gain valuable experience.
When it comes to an experience of a lifetime like an internship, the one question we ask ourselves over and over again is “how do I make the most out of this experience?” In this blog, I would like to share with you five game-changing strategies that you can start implementing at work!
Read about Matvei's co-op experience at a start-up company and how this life-changing opportunity helped his career development journey.
Puneet Sran shares her experience from her most recent co-op with Verathon: "As someone who never imagined being an engineer, I have been extremely fortunate to work in such a technical field, among highly intelligent individuals".
A co-op semester at Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada (CIRNAC) allowed International Studies student, William Reid, to learn more about Canada's relationship with Indigenous people. Read more, here.
In today's global labour market, the ability to converse in a second language is an increasingly useful skill. Here, Jessica Tse shares some tips she learned as an international student from Hong Kong working in an English speaking environment.
The 2nd Annual SFU Indigenous Day at the SFU Burnaby campus was a huge success! Here is a recap of the event.
Applying for his first co-op placement, Business student, Jeffery Choi wanted a job that would be exciting and challenging, but more than anything, fulfilling. Looking for work with purpose, Jeff spent his first co-op as a Campaign Associate for the United Way of the Lower Mainland.
Criminology student, Rachel Tong shares how her volunteer experience helped her develop the marketing and community engagement skills necessary for a co-op position with Parent Support Services of BC.
We must acknowledge autonomy for Indigenous Students in an academic setting, we are not in your classes to teach them, and we are not able to speak on behalf of every Indigenous community.
"It’s normal to not hear back from interviewers." Wait, what?! Science student, Richard Hsia has some sage advice to ease your mind and sharpen your competitive edge in your co-op job search.
Veteran co-op student, Mouataz Kaddoura, shares valuable lessons learned from co-op terms with Avigilon, MENRVA, Biomedical Research Lab, and Shield-X Technology.
Soroush Jafaryvahed set out to learn something new every day on his co-op with Ballard Power. The experience taught him that just because you are only with a company a short time, as as student, doesn’t mean that you can’t make a lasting impact.
The tech sector is one of the world's fastest-growing industries, making it the perfect place to launch a career. But where does that leave students with non-technical backgrounds? Following a coveted internship with SAP, Beedie student, Kevin Ng, shares his experience of working with a global tech firm.
To be a member of Parks Canada's Toronto Urban Outreach you must first become an expert in the regions incredible national heritage sites. Environmental Science student, Francesca Marquez shares how exploring Canada's heritage sites prepared her to share her knowledge with the public during Canada's 150th anniversary.
Ever spotted your dream co-op position on MyExperience but found out it was on the other side of the country? Or worse overseas! Srijani Datta, is here to tell you about why you should, in fact, relocate for co-op.
Graduate student, Stephen Chastain spent two co-op terms conducting research into microscopic pollution in our oceans. Here, he shares what he learned about this pressing issue and its global implications.
Whether you’re in your first or sixth year, explaining what you intend to do with your degree can be as frustrating as it is… well, frustrating. In this article, Abby Zaporteza sheds light on skills and opportunities, intrinsic to liberal arts.
Yasmin Khalili had her career mapped out way before she came to SFU, but the experience of coming to university and enrolling in the co-op program demonstrated that there are hundreds of paths and opportunities one can follow. Read Yasmin's story to learn about her co-op journey with ChANGEpain Clinic.
Have you ever wondered if extending graduation to take part in co-op is really worth it? Find out by checking out Mark's final co-op reflection as he looks back on four co-op terms.
Have you ever wondered how university contributes to your mental health? In this article, Makshada shares what she learned about SFU's actions to promote mental health and student well-being during her Co-op term with SFU Health Promotion.
Every experience provides the opportunity to go above and beyond. Here, Beedie Business student Jared Chiu shares how he seized the opportunity to grow his role, and how you can too.
Beedie Business student, Ali Najaf shares his extraordinary journey from not knowing anything about the Canadian Football League to working with one of their best teams - The BC Lions.
Don’t limit yourself and be active in asking to take on projects beyond the job description. Here are some insights from Christy’s co-op at TELUS.
It’s natural to feel overwhelmed in a new workplace. School of Interactive Art and Technology student, Jimmy Phung shares his tips for rocking at work, without hitting rock bottom.
We deserve more and so do our Indigenous youth. The justification of our suffering needs to stop.
An incredible co-op term with Goldcorp taught Joselyn Hernandez to be open minded when searching for co-op opportunities. You never know which organization, industry or position you might end up liking until you try.
Interactive Arts & Technology student, Fahad Hasany shares how co-op taught him to be confident learning the tools of the trade with the City of Surrey.
Each semester, thousands of students transfer to SFU from colleges and universities across the Lower Mainland. Communication student Alex Caw reflects on his experience learning to navigate bigger classes and a bigger campus, as well as his advice for prospective students thinking of making the leap.
Bouncing back from hurdles and setbacks is an important part of career building. Environmental Science student, Ria Yao shares how she developed resilience and patience in the face of rejection.
Derek Woo travelled to Hong Kong for his co-op with the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. To keep in touch, he sent postcards home, sharing each leg of his journey as he traversed one of the world's most bustling cities.
Are you an aspiring UX Researcher? Fourth-year SIAT student and UX Researcher at Samsung, Alireza Mogharrab, shares key tips for creating effective usability studies.
For a lot of us who are natural creatives, what more of a dream would it be to do what we love? Working in design might seem like the best of both worlds, but the reality of combining work and play isn’t exactly a walk in the park.
Surviving in a trading fort in the wild west now known as British Columbia was tough in the 1800s. A time when 9 out of 10 of your meals would have been salmon and potatoes and grocery shopping would mean bringing a musket into the woods. Alexis, shares what she learned about surviving the 1800s.
It is easy to become stressed in an unfamiliar and fast-pace working environment, no matter which field you are in, but good strategies can help you reduce stress and learn to work more efficiently. Mi Zhou shares her tips from her co-op with OSI Maritime Systems.